Gas-lighter.



J. L. M. ZIMMERMAN.

GAS LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED APE.18, 1912. RENEWED APR. 7, 1914.

1, 1 00,936. Patented June 23, 1.914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. L. M. ZIMMERMAN.

GAS LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1912. RENEWED APR. 7, 1914.

.1, 1 00,936. Patented June 23, 1914.

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(fd 722 e.s'[.M. Zz'r/zmernzan JAMES L. M.ZIMMER1VIAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1314.

Application filed April 18, 1912, Serial No. 691,692. Renewed April 7, 1914- Serial No. 830,291.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES L. M. ZIMMER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas lighters, the object of the invention being to provide a manually operated device which serves to turn on the gas and impart a rotary motion to a friction wheel, whereby a spark or shower of sparks are caused to be made by reason of the contact of said wheel with the block of pyrophoric alloy or other similar material to ignite the gas.

A further object is to provide improved means for imparting a partial rotary motion to the friction wheel.

A further object is to provide an improved mounting for the pyrophoric alloy, whereby the latter may be readily replaced when worn.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be readily attached to any ordinary gas fixture, and which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a view in side elevation illustrating my improvements showing the parts in normal position. Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation showing the parts in position to open the valve and just about to mechanically operate the spark forming means. Fig. 3, is a view in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, illustrates in side elevation and in edge view my improved operating lever 20. Fig. 5, is a similar view of my improved plate 16. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pivoted catch 27. Fig. 7, is aperspective view of the pawl 15. Fig. 8, is a plan view of the supporting plate 8. Fig. 9, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the arm 33 supporting the pyrophoric alloy, and Fig. 10, is a perspective view of the friction wheel 12.

1, represents a gas fixture provided with the ordinary burner 2, and tip 3.

4, is the ordinary turning plug valve of the gas burner which is conical in form,

lindrical form, but having a flat face 7 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A base, plate 8 supporting my improvements is provided with an opening 9,

through which the outer end 10 of valve 4 projects, and this plate is provided nearits upper end with a strap 11 positioned around the upper end of the burner 2.

A friction wheel 12 has rotary mounting on a pin 13, fixed to the upper end of plate 8, and this wheel 12 is provided on one face with a circular series of pins 14 which are adapted to be struck by a pivoted finger 15 on a plate 16.

The finger 15 is pivotally connected be tween its ends to the plate 16, and is held normally against a shoulder 17 by means of a spring 18. This shoulder 17 therefore limits the pivotal movement of the finger in one direction, but allows it to move in another direction as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Plate 16 is made with a circular opening 19 to receive the end 10 of valve 4, and a lever 20 having a circular disk 21 at one end is provided in said circular disk with an opening 22 to receive the end 10 of valve 4. This opening 21 has a flat wall 23 which engages the flat edge 7 of the valve end 10, so that the valve is compelled to turn with the lever.

A headed screw 24 is screwed into the end 10, and its head overlaps the disk 21 so that the lever 20 is securely locked to the valve. This disk 21 is provided in its edge with a notch 25 into which the angular end 26 of a catch 27 is normally held by means of a spring 28. This catch 27 is pivoted between its ends on a pin 29 secured to plate 16, and a spring 30 is connected at one end to an opening 31 in plate 16, and at its other end is positioned through an eye 32 on baseplate 8. This spring 30 serves to hold plate 16 in its normal position as indicated in Fig. 1, and return this plate to normal position. An arm 33 is pivotally connected to base plate 8 by means of a pin 34, and this arm 33 near its free end is provided with a screw-threaded lug 35 onto which a tube 36 is screwed, and is adapted to support a lug 37 of pyrophoric alloy or other similar composition. This block of pyrophoric alloy is held tightly against the frictioned surface of wheel 12 by means of a spring 38, but the arm 33 can be easily withdrawn and a new block of alloy inserted when an old one is used up.

Fig. 1 shows the parts in normal position with the valve closed. A suitable pull 40 is provided on lever 20, and when it is desired to light the gas, this pull 4:0 is drawn downwardly. This movement causes the lever 20 to move downwardly turning the valve 4:. As the angular end 26 of catch 27 is located in the notch 25, this movement of the lever will compel the plate 16 to swing to one side.

The pivoted finger 15 will swing on its pivot when it contacts with the pin 14, and pass this pin in the outward movement of the plate. When the lever reaches a position as seen in Fig. 2, one end of the catch 27 will engage the pin 39 which also serves the function of supporting one end of spring 38. This pin 39 will therefore stop any further movement of the catch, and a continued pull on the lever 20 will serve to draw the catch out of engagement with the lever. When entirely released from engagement with the lever, spring 30 will return plate 16 to normal position. This movement will be rapid and during such movement the pivoted finger 15 will strike one of the pins 14, causing the friction wheel 12 to partially revolve and by reason of its engagement with the pyrophoric alloy, cause a shower of sparks to issue and light the gas.

T'Vhenever the lever 21 is returned to normal position to shut off the gas, the catch 27 will spring into the notch 25 so that the operation above described will be repeated.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my in vention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas lighting attachment, comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to a gas burner, a lever adapted to be secured to turn with the gas valve, a holder for spark forming material, a friction wheel against the spark forming material, a pivoted plate, a pivoted spring held finger on said plate adapted to ride past the friction wheel when moved in one direction and move the friction wheel when moved in the opposite direction, means normally locking the plate to the lever and releasing the plate when said lever reaches a predetermined position, and a spring constructed to return said plate to normal position, substantially as described.

2. A gas lighting attachment, comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to a gas burner, a lever adapted to be secured to turn with the gas valve, a holder for spark forming material a friction wheel against the spark forming material, a pivoted plate, a pivoted spring held finger on said plate adapted to ride past the friction wheel when moved in one direction and move the friction wheel when moved in the opposite direction, means normally locking the plate to the lever and releasing the plate when said lever reaches a predetermined position, a spring constructed to return said plate to normal position, said plate holding means comprising a catch pivoted between its ends, said lever having a notch therein into which the catch is normally positioned, a spring pressing the catch into the notch, and a pin against which the catch engages to release the same from the lever, substantially as described.

3. A. gas lighting attachment comprising a plate, a friction wheel having rotary mounting on the plate, a circular series of pins on the friction wheel, a gas valve, a lever controlling the opening and closing of the gas valve, a pivoted plate, means for compelling the pivoted plate to move fora predetermined distance with the lever, means for releasing the pivoted plate from locked engagement with the lever, means on the oivoted plate constructed to engage one of tie pins and turn the friction wheel, and means for supporting pyrophoric alloy against the surface of said wheel, substantially as described.

4. A gas lighting attachment comprising a plate, a friction wheel having rotary mounting on the plate, a circular series of pins on the friction wheel, a gas valve, a lever cont-rolling the opening and closing of the gas valve, a pivoted plate, means for compelling the pivoted plate to move for a predetermined distance with the lever, means for releasing the pivoted plate from locked engagement with the lever, means on the pivoted plate constructed to engage one of the pins and turn the friction wheel, a pivoted arm, a removable sleeve supported on said arm, pyrophoric alloy in said sleeve, and a spring normally pressing the arm toward the friction wheel, substantially as described.

5. A gas lighting attachment comprising a plate, a friction wheel having rotary mounting on the plate, a circular series of pins on the friction wheel, a gas valve, a lever controlling the opening and closing of first-mentioned means causing the release of the plate and its return to normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES L. M. ZIMMERMAN.

Witnesses:

R. H. KRENKEL, CHARLES E. Po'r'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. G. 

